sundown thoughts: a poetry collection

by Tara A. Lake

Raw and evocative.

This poetry collection is an invitation to a conversation for those who care deeply, chronically, and put others first, always.

Notice the places where we stay silent, conform, shrink, accomodate, and neglect ourselves.
See the moments where we can cultivate self love, and take back our power.

This conversation is happening after sundown...

sundown thoughts is poetry collection of one woman's fight against people-pleasing, as she explores her spirituality and where she needs to still heal to find new sources of inner power.

This raw and heart-warming work will plunge you into the depths of a journey of self-care, inner work and ultimately self-love. Relatable and inspiring, it hopes to encourage readers to reflect on their own walk with self-neglect and the need to please others.

Advance praise for sundown thoughts:

“This book is for anyone who has mistaken self-sacrifice for goodness. In this tender debut, the speaker peels apart the pain of people pleasing and takes the reader on a journey of self discovery. With standout lines like “crack open the lens of everything you think” this collection will leave you rethinking where you end and others begin, and what it might mean to finally choose yourself.”

—Nicole Dalcourt, author of What Remains

Tara’s book is so honest and vulnerable. I could relate to many of the pieces. Though the lines were mostly short, it carried powerful meaning and visual appeal. She talks about standing up and caring for yourself in a way that feels right. “My heart is your home” is one line that really impacted me. Love this book!

—Kirsten McNeill, Confidence and Writing Lifestyle Coach

96 pages, Hardcover

First published July 16, 2026

About the author

Tara is an award-winning self-published author, whose poetry has been published in Late Night Projections literary newspaper.

A full-fledged creative, Tara explores writing in multiple genres. When she isn’t typing at her keyboard, she’s hiking one of the many beautiful trails that Southern Ontario, Canada has to offer; playing board games with her husband and two children; or training in agility with her sweet, smart, and sassy Australian Shepherd Leo.

To catch up on Tara’s latest releases and upcoming novels, visit [www].taraalake.com or find her on Instagram @tara.a.lake.
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To stay up today on Tara's latest writing projects and read her short stories visit her website:

Author website:
www.taraalake.com

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http://instagram.com/tara.a.lake

Facebook:
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Reviews

[Kirsten McNeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara's book is so honest and vulnerable. I could relate to many of the pieces. Though the lines were mostly short, it carried powerful meaning and visual appeal. She talks about standing up and caring for yourself in a way that feels right. "My heart is your home" is one line that really impacted me. Love this book!

[Lucie Ataya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sundown Thoughts is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you’ve finished the final page. I read my copy in a single sitting, completely absorbed from beginning to end. Whether you’re a lifelong lover of poetry or someone who’s never picked up a poetry collection before, there is something here for you. This book doesn’t try to impress with elaborate language or embellishment. It simply seeks to tell the truth. The result is a collection that feels emotionally raw, deeply human, and profoundly relatable. Many of the poems hit me right in the feels and left me feeling truly seen. It’s the kind of book that meets you where you are and quietly reminds you that you’ve not alone. This is a book I know I’ll return to again and again, finding something new in its pages each time.